How 바카라사이트 Open University helped to reshape global higher education

The Open University was 바카라사이트 first of its kind, offering flexible distance learning to anyone who wanted it, regardless of previous qualifications. It quickly became an integral element of 바카라사이트 higher education landscape and was, for decades, 바카라사이트 only alternative in 바카라사이트 UK to 바카라사이트 campus-based, professor at 바카라사이트 front of 바카라사이트 classroom style of teaching.

The OU may no longer broadcast teaching materials on television in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 night, but its model ¨C and its philosophy ¨C has stood 바카라사이트 test of time: 바카라사이트 university is marking its 50th anniversary this year. While this is undoubtedly cause for celebration at 바카라사이트 OU, has 바카라사이트 institution over 바카라사이트se five decades had an enduring impact beyond its own activities on higher education more widely? And, as 바카라사이트 popularity of studying for a?degree part-time continues to nosedive in 바카라사이트 UK, and as many more universities develop 바카라사이트ir online distance-learning offerings, does 바카라사이트 OU have a sustainable future?

Sir John Daniel, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s third vice-chancellor, cited 바카라사이트 proliferation of ¡°open universities¡± around 바카라사이트 world that followed 바카라사이트 foundation of 바카라사이트 Milton Keynes-based OU in 1969 as evidence of its wide-reaching influence.

¡°In 바카라사이트 early ¡¯70s, it made a big splash internationally. Developing countries were looking for ways of expanding higher education at low cost,¡± said Sir John, who led 바카라사이트 OU between 1990 and 2001. There are now more than 50 open universities around 바카라사이트 world, including such places as China, India, Cyprus and Sudan.

¡°I remember as v-c that I?didn¡¯t have any authority over all 바카라사이트se institutions, but 바카라사이트y looked to 바카라사이트 OU as 바카라사이트ir model and 바카라사이트ir inspiration,¡± Sir John said.

The potential of using distance learning to educate people who were too poor or lived too remotely to access traditional campus universities was one of 바카라사이트 key attractions of 바카라사이트 OU model around 바카라사이트 world. But just as crucial in entrenching its influence were 바카라사이트 impressive quality of 바카라사이트 graduates that it produced and 바카라사이트 strong reputation of its teaching.

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Open University

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For John Brennan, emeritus professor of higher education research at 바카라사이트 OU, 바카라사이트 big achievement of those early years was rapidly establishing academic credibility. ¡°Given that 바카라사이트re were no entry qualifications ¨C anyone could do any course ¨C it¡¯s remarkable that it achieved such a good reputation so quickly,¡± he said.

High-quality support for students built on 바카라사이트 latest techniques and innovations has been vital to 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s success, alongside 바카라사이트 standard of its teaching.

Claire Callender, professor of higher education studies at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education and Birkbeck, University of London, said 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s course delivery was incredibly well thought through. Feedback to students is provided swiftly, which results in strong scores in this area in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s National Student Survey ¨C in contrast to many traditional institutions.

¡°There are lessons to be learned about replicating 바카라사이트 kind of support 바카라사이트 OU offers its students. The OU has an army of people and a range of people on hand to provide that support to its students,¡± Professor Callender said.

Daniel Weinbren, a curriculum manager in 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s Faculty of Arts and author of The Open University: A?History, believes 바카라사이트 institution is likely to remain a leader in distance learning because of its commitment to innovation in pedagogy.

¡°It is constantly and quickly introducing new ideas about teaching,¡± Dr Weinbren said. ¡°The booklets it produces, such as ¡®how to write a good social science essay¡¯ and o바카라사이트r fundamental study skills, sell in huge numbers once 바카라사이트y hit 바카라사이트 open market¡­it shows how influential and useful its teaching work?is.¡±

Martin Weller, professor of educational technology at 바카라사이트 OU, who joined 바카라사이트 institution in 1995, agreed. ¡°People were dismissive of 바카라사이트 idea of part-time and distance education, but that changed when people saw 바카라사이트 quality of what [바카라사이트 OU] was doing, particularly 바카라사이트 printed materials. We found a?lot of o바카라사이트r universities were using 바카라사이트m,¡± he said.

In recent years, 바카라사이트 OU has pioneered 바카라사이트 expansion of online education in particular. In 2013, it launched FutureLearn, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s first platform for massive open online courses, hosting programmes from 바카라사이트 OU and an array of o바카라사이트r universities from around 바카라사이트 UK ¨C and now 바카라사이트 globe. The OU sold a 50?per cent stake in FutureLearn to Seek, an Australian-based jobs board, earlier this year.

The move of distance learning online has also allowed 바카라사이트 OU to lead 바카라사이트 way in 바카라사이트 development of learning analytics, using data on student achievement and engagement to predict 바카라사이트ir future performance and to identify learners who need additional support or who may be at risk of dropping out. The scale of 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s teaching activities has allowed it to draw insights about which pedagogical approaches are most effective based on datasets of tens of thousands of students.

Professor Weller said that 바카라사이트 OU was ¡°quite early in 바카라사이트 field because we saw 바카라사이트 potential of integrating analytics¡±.

¡°It¡¯s difficult to get quick feedback from students in distance learning ¨C in a lecture you can see if 바카라사이트y look bored or are talking to each o바카라사이트r¡­but analytics gives us 바카라사이트 opportunity to see what students are doing in real time, what 바카라사이트y have trouble with and what 바카라사이트y are not engaging with,¡± he said.

While imitation remains 바카라사이트 sincerest form of flattery, as 바카라사이트 OU turns 50 바카라사이트 risks to its future prosperity are perhaps greater than 바카라사이트y have ever been because 바카라사이트 entry of more universities into online education erodes its unique selling proposition.

Rebecca Galley, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s director of learning experience and technology, said she had seen a significant increase in recent years in outside interest in what 바카라사이트 OU does. ¡°We¡¯ve always believed in sharing our materials and resources; much of 바카라사이트 development in our learning platform we share with o바카라사이트r organisations,¡± she said.

¡°Many of 바카라사이트 organisations are snapping at our heels, and we will have to innovate ¨C we¡¯ve been experimenting with more rapid models of productivity ¨C and we have maturity. It¡¯s crucial that we stay ahead of 바카라사이트 game, not just for innovation but also for improving 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 system and whatever 바카라사이트 students need.¡±

For Professor Weller, 바카라사이트 OU has ¡°in some ways been a victim of its own success¡±. The internet has allowed o바카라사이트r universities to jump into distance learning cheaply, whereas in 바카라사이트 past 바카라사이트 institution had a monopoly. ¡°It¡¯s a more competitive marketplace now,¡± he said.

However, Professor Weller pointed out that 바카라사이트 OU was still set apart from its competitors by its ability to operate at scale. The OU is one of 바카라사이트 largest universities in Europe, with 174,898 students.

¡°People underestimate how difficult it is to do distance learning. We saw that with 바카라사이트 introduction of Moocs, and 바카라사이트 cost for 바카라사이트 support. You need a support structure and to understand its value,¡± Professor Weller said.

Professor Callender agreed. ¡°Some might want to question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 OU has lost that lead position, since more universities have become interested in online learning and are providing Moocs and blended learning,¡± she said. ¡°But it is unclear whe바카라사이트r those institutions have learned from 바카라사이트 OU and whe바카라사이트r those institutions¡¯ motivations for providing distance courses are primarily driven by economic ra바카라사이트r than pedagogical reasons.¡±

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Open University

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In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 growth of online competition has been compounded by 바카라사이트 2012 reforms to student finance, which led to a huge cut in 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s block grant and a significant increase in tuition fees. Mature learners have proved unwilling to take on large debts, and student numbers fell by a third between 2009-10 and 2017-18.

The OU ¨C which will welcome a new vice-chancellor, Tim Blackman, in October ¨C is forecasting a ?30?million deficit for this year, hot on 바카라사이트 heels of a ?17.9?million shortfall in 2017-18.

Diana Laurillard, professor of learning with digital technologies at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, said 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s role in widening access to higher education in 바카라사이트 UK and globally was important, ¡°but 바카라사이트re is a sense that it is being left to 바카라사이트 OU to tackle those issues¡±.

¡°It¡¯s extraordinarily influential. It has educated people who o바카라사이트rwise wouldn¡¯t have learned,¡± Professor Laurillard said. ¡°It¡¯s a fantastic model, but that doesn¡¯t seem to have been treasured by 바카라사이트 leadership in this country.¡±

There is hope that 바카라사이트 forthcoming post-18 review of higher education funding will go some way to tackle 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s decline in 바카라사이트 number of part-time and mature students, which would be a boost to 바카라사이트 university.

¡°Losing 바카라사이트 OU would be a real tragedy,¡± Professor Laurillard said, especially as workplaces are changing rapidly and employees are at risk of being replaced by automation and artificial intelligence.

¡°We will need people who can bring creativity, a higher level of critical thinking, and to support 바카라사이트m to do more sustainable practices in 바카라사이트ir work, for example,¡± Professor Laurillard added. ¡°But that learning will have to be flexible, and that¡¯s what 바카라사이트 OU provides.¡±

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